Folding cigar-box



(No Model.)

H. SWANGER. FOLDING GIGAR BOX.

Patented Feb; 8 1898.,

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HOMER SWANGER, or MISHAWAKA, INDIANA.

FOLDING CIGAR-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 598,542, dated February 8, 1898.. Application filed April 24, 1897. Serial No. 633,590. (No model.) i

To all whom it may concern.-

3e it known that I, HOMER SWANGER, residing at Mishawaka, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Folding Cigar-Box, of which the followingis a specification.

lily invention relates to certain improvements in folding boxes, and more particularly the folding side and end portions and having at the inner part thereof the corner fastening devices, so that the sides and end portions of said box can be locked or secured to the desired position when the same is to be used.

A further object of the invention is to provide a box such as described, composed of the usual parts, simple in construction, and one which can be manufactured at a slight cost.

lVith these and other objects infview my invention consists in certain novel features I of construction and in combinations and arbox in an open and flattened position.

rangements of parts more fully described hereinafter and particularly pointed out i the claims. r r I Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating my invention, Figure l is a perspective view showing my improved folding box in an open" position. Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating my improved folding Fig; 3 is a longitudinal sectional view'showing the ends and the sides of the box, the end portions thereof being turned under and the sides on top of the bottom thereof. Fig. 4is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the corner-plates securing the ends and side portions of the box in position. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional View illustrating the manner of securing the hanging or end pieces,- and Fig. 7 is a detail View thereof being adapted to be secured in any suitable manner, preferably by an adhesive substance, to the under side of the bottom or base of the box, as clearly shown in Fig. ,2, so that the side and end flaps can be folded, the flexible or textile strip forming a hinge for the folding of. said section. It will be noticed, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, that this flexible strip is, secured to the inner side of the ends of the box, as shown at F, and is then folded within a beveled portion G, arranged within the space between the lower edge of the end portion and the bottom or base of the box, this strip being looped, as shown, and passed over and secured to the upper face of the bottom of the box, so that the end portion thereof can be folded beneath the same, as illustrated by dotted lines H.

I indicates the usual construction of hinges that are generally located on a box such as described.

J represents the plates or fastening devices arranged on the inner sides of the several sections and in the corners thereof. The outer edges of the side portions of the box are provided with the outwardly-extending pins K, the same being adapted to enter openings adjacent to the outer edges of the end portions of the box; The plates J have the inwardlycurved portions L to provide a guideway for the reception of a locking pin or bolt N,which is provided with the inwardly-curved portion, so that the same can be easily fitted Within and be freely slidable within the guideway, thereby securely locking the corner-plates as well as the curved portions of the box.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. The side and end portions are raised and when in the desiredposition are locked in place by means of the locking-plate N, so that the end and side portions of the box are securely held together. When it is desired to unfold or flatten out the several parts comprising the box for purposes of transportation, &c., the locking-plate N can be easily withdrawn and the box flattened out, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to permit of the same being placed or stored away in a small compartment until it is desired to again use the same.

By reason of the flexible or textile hinges I am enabled to produce a box that can be manufactured and sold at a small figure in comparison with those now on the market,

and I am also enabled by reason of the peculiar manner of folding the same to use the box any number of times, and also provide a construction whereby said box can be flattened out, and the end and side portions turned under and on top the bottom thereof, so that the same can-be stored away in a small compartment.

Various slight changes might be made in the formation of the box, and it is evident that such slight changes might also be made in the formation of the locking-plates without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. A folding box, consisting of end and side portions secured respectively to the bottom portion by flexible strips, and the side and end portions secured together by means of pins secured in the side portions projected into apertures in the end portions and by interlocking plate-strips, substantially as herein shown and set forth.

2. The combination in a folding box,of side and end portions secured by flexible strips to the bottom portion,vertical folded metal strip portions secured to the side and end portions, a locking-strip adapted to secure said folded strip, and pins projected from the edges of the side portions adapted to enter holes prov-ided in the end, portions when the ends and sides are brought to a vertical position, substantially as herein shown and set forth.

3. The herein-described means for securing together the side and end portions of a foldin g'box, consisting of pins projected from the edges of the side portions adapted to enter holes provided in the inner surface of the end portions, and further means for fastening said parts consisting of a folded metal strip secured to the side and end portions respectively, and a locking-strip adapted to secure the other strips together, all substantially as herein shown and described.

HOMER SWANGER.

Witnesses:

GEORGE L. HARRIS, CHARLES MUTSOHLER. 

